TARA’S HAPPY BOXES

OUR OFFICIAL STORY OF OUR NONPROFIT Tara’s Happy Boxes Nonprofit all stemmed from a conversation with my Grandson, Cayden. So during the pandemic I wanted to keep busy. I found a couple of cigar boxes in our basement and decided to make a purse out of one. It was a David Bowie Purse because I love him so much. After that I decided to make my 3 Grandchildren keepsake boxes that I appropriately called happy boxes….because I filled them will little prizes, books etc.,! I wore my Bowie purse out one evening with my husband and a few of the servers were really freaking out over it! So I thought well I will make a few more…it really turned into something quickly so I made it an official business! Back to the conversation with my Grandson! While Cayden was over one day he said, “MomMom, can you show me how to make a happy box”?! I said, “of course”!We got to talking about how every child needs a happy box ~Cayden then said, “like sick children MomMom”? That was the moment!! That’s when Tara’s Happy Boxes Charity for Children actually began!! That Christmas we whipped up a couple hundred boxes, filled them with toys and such and donated them. My Nephew worked at AtlantiCare at that time and set up a meeting for the people in charge of the clinic in AC and their behavioral health building in EHT where they called them coping boxes. Their young patients were really struggling since the pandemic so their counselors would grab a box even if during the middle oft the night if a child was in crisis and immediately the boxes lowered the atmosphere and brought peace to the child. Bring a former police officer, I reached out to some of the area Police Departments and asked them if they could use some to help diffuse similar situations with youth that they may encounter, Atlantic City was given some just about 2 months ago. I’m anxious to follow up with their PBA President to see how that is working out and get them more if adding a positive to their experiences. In just over a years time, we are now close to donating 4000 Happy Boxes to over 16 organizations helping children locally, nationally and even internationally including an orphanage in South Africa where we sent 100 over there with a he Johnson Family. Our latest commitment is to get the Boys and Girls Club 8000…yes, 8000!! We have got them close to 3000 alone, in AC, Vineland and Pa. (Bridesburgh) We became an official 501c3 in January 2023 because of how popular our happy boxes were becoming. So many friends businesses have made this all possible by sponsoring boxes, delivering supplies and toys, stuffed animals, socks, and more. Family and friend join in on the online raffles we hold every few months to raise money for the materials/supplies and toys( I applied for permission from the State to hold these and was granted a certificate of approval) W have large events like Cornhole with bands and wonderful food with the generosity to food businesses donating to help us, and businesses donating items for the auctions at the events, even lucky enough to have the Philadelphia Phillies and other sports team donate memorabilia. So many organizations like the area PBA’s Exchange Clubs, Free Masons, WaWa, AtlantiCare, South Jersey Gas and more have donated financially to help us keep this going and help us to attain our goals. We have blessed that something organically grown, has captured the hearts of so many people who believe and us and keep us going. I love making these all by and some friends have helped my husband and I to pack these so I can get many out to children every few months! In the beginning we were using our own funds, but as they gained in popularity, it was then friend and family started to sponsor boxes to help with the expenses.